Jack structure for an earth boring machine



June 22, 1965 J. w. MAXWELL JACK STRUCTURE FOR AN EARTH BORING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ANN June 22, 1965 J, w. MAXWELL JACK STRUCTURE FOR AN EARTH BORING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 o |V IIIIIII II IIIA LWMWWI:

June 22, 1965 J. w. MAXWELL 3,190,371

JACK STRUCTURE FOR AN EARTH BORING MACHINE Filed DSC. 22, 1961 3 SheecS-Sheefl .5

Mm 5y @Q6-M@ United States Patent O M 3,190,371 JACK STRUCTURE FR AN EARTH BGRING MACHNE James W. Maxwell, 2209 Walnut St., Cedar Falls, Iowa Filed Dec. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 161,624 12 Claims. (Cl. 173--141) Undeground cables and pipes often must pass underneath erected highways and streets. Because of the great expense and inconveience in tearing up the streets to permit the cables and pipes to pass thereunder, certain earth boring machines have been devised to bore holes underneath the streets through which pipe and cable can be inserted. This is usually accomplished by digging an excavation `on each side of the street or highway involved, thence lowering an earth boring machine into one of the excavations, and thence boring a hole in the earth underneath the street involved from one excavation to the other through which a pipe can be inserted. The pipe or cable so inserted is then connected to adjoining sections of pipe or cable which extend into and terminate in each of the two excavations.

One of the greatest problems in the operation of an earth boring machine of the type described is forcing the cutting bit in a horizontal direction underneath the street involved. Many structures have been devised to accomplish this function, but they are customarily expensive to manufacture and cumbersome to operate.

Therefore, the principal object of my invention is to provide a jack structure for an earth boring machine which can be easily adapted to the conventional structure of a boring machine without greatly adding to the expense and size of the boring machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide `a jack structure for an earth boring machine which can easily be used in forcing the drill stems through the earth, and also for withdrawing the drill stems after the initial cutting operation has taken place.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a jack structure for an earth boring machine which can be operated by one person.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a jack structure for an earth boring machine that does not require auxiliary supporting structure in the excavation other than the boring machine itself.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a jack structure for an earth boring machine that will not interfere with the boring function of the boring machine A still further object of my invention is to provide a jack structure for an earth boring machine that can be rendered inoperative when the jacking function is not required to move the drill stems with respect to the earth.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a jack structure for an earth boring machine that is economical of manufacture, durable in use, and refined in appearance. i

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. i My invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a partial side elevation of my device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of my device taken on line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of my device taken on line 3 3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevation view of my device showing the position of the component parts as the drill stem and 3,190,371- Patented June 22, 1965 ICC the carriage are about to be forcibly withdrawn from the earth;

FIG. 5 is a partial elevational view of my device similar to FIG. 4 but showing the position of the component parts as the jack mechanism is moved rearwardly so that the stroke depicted in FIG. 4 can be repeated;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of my device similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 but showing the position of the component parts as the drill stem and carriage have just been moved an incremental distance in a forward direction on the supporting rails;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the forward end of my jack assembly which is mounted on the supporting rails with the jack assembly being in its inoperative position. One supporting rail and the supporting carriage have been eliminated to more fully show this construction; and

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of my jack assembly showing one of its operative positions on the supporting rails. One of the supporting rails has been eliminated to more fully show the construction of the jack assembly.

I have used the numerals 10 and 12 to designate two elongated supporting rails comprised of oppositely facing channel members 13 having an upper horizontal flange 14, a lower horizontal flange 16, and a vertical portion 18 connecting the two horizontal flanges. The lower edge of the vertical portion 18 of rails 10 and 12 can terminate in an L-shaped portion 20. Spaced apart bars 22 can be welded to and extend between the L- shaped portions 20 of rails 10 and 12 to hold the rails in parallel spaced relation to each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, oppositely disposed inverted' L- shaped mounting members 24 are disposed in between rails 10 and 12 with the upper horizontal anges 26 of the mounting members extending over the flanges 14 of the rails in spaced relation thereto. At least two axle elements 28 are secured to and extended between the lower edges of mounting members 24, and wheels 30 are secured to a suitable axle therein to rotatably support the mounting members on the lower flanges 16 of rails 10 and 12. Collectively, mounting members 24, axle elements 28 and wheels 3i) comprise a wheel-supported carriage 31.

The dotted lines in FIG. l show some of the conventional components of an earth boring machine. A motor 32 is secured to the flanges 26 of mounting members 24. A clutch device 34 is adapted to selective control the output of power to a coupling element 36 which is also secured to mounting members 24 by means of bearing member 38. Hollow drill stem 40 can be detachably secured to coupling element 36, and drill bit 42 can be detachably secured to the forward end of drill stem 40. A bearing means (not shown) on the forward end of rails 10 and 12 provides sliding and rotational support for the forward end of drill stem 40 at a point rearwardly of drill bit 42. Conduit 44 can be in communication with the hollow drill stem 40 so that a quantity of water can be supplied to the drilling area through suitable apertures (not shown) in drill bit 42. Handles 46 are also secured to supporting members 24 to facilitate the manual movement of carriages 31 on the rails 10 and 12. The above described structure is supported primarily by carriage 31 and is adapted to move as carriage 31 is moved.

A pair of posts 48 are welded in a vertical position to the upper flange 26 of mounting members 24. A shaft Sil rotatably extends through suitable apertures in posts 4S and the shaft 50 is maintained in this position by cotter keys 52 extending through the ends thereof. An inverted U-shaped yoke 54 with downwardly extending legs 56 is secured adjacent the centers of the legs to the tional length thereof can be withdrawn as the carriage -is again returned or pulled to the yrearward ends of the rails. Sometimes the earth offers little Vresistance to the boring operation, and the carriage can be manually pushed back and forth' on the 'railswithout great effort. In such a case, screws'S in lugs 72 'are positioned as shown in FIG.

n 7 to prevent Vlugs 72 rfrom engaging the top flanges 14 of end of'bar 62, however, extends beyond the Vforward end of theV carriage 31, as shown in FIG. 8. A cross bar 64 Y is welded to andextends transversely from the forward end of bar 62. Cross'bar 64 has a length slightly lessY than the distance between railsY 10 and 12. Posts 66 rare welded to the top of'cross bar 64 and extend upwardly therefrom the project above therupper flanges y14 on railsr 16 and 12. A U-shaped spring element68 of spring steel or the like is secured byone of its ends to the bottom surface of cross bar 64 byscrew assembly 69. vThe spring element 68 then extends rearwardly over and in engagement withV axle element 28, and thence upwardly into engagement with bar 62. TensionA is normally exerted on spring element 68h51. axle element 28.to yieldingly urgethe ends of cross bar 64 upwardly into engagement with the underneath side of flanges 14'0n rails 10 and 12.

A horizontal shaft 70 extendsbetween and through suitable apertures -in posts 66.r Lugs 72 are rotatably` mountedon therextreme ends of shaft 70 and are maintained on the. shaft by conventional snap ring assemblies erative.

rails 16 and 12. This rendersthe jacking assembly inop- Howeven'the earth sometimesl greatly resists the boring and withdrawing operations, and inv those cases, the jacking assembly is needed to complete these operations.v

When the carriagel isfonthe rearward end of the rails and it isdesired to forcibly move the carriage forwardly to insert drill bit 42into the earth, the lugs '72 are placed in the position shown in FIG. 6 with straight sides 75 thereof ina .vertical position and thearcuate Ybottoms 78 in engangementwith the upper flanges14 of rails10 and 12. Asv described heretofore, springr 68 bearing'on axle elem'enti23 forces the ends'of cross bar 64 upwardly into engagement with the Vlower surfaces of flanges 14 on rails landy 12. The handle57 on Vyoke 54 is then pulled rearwardly to the position shown by the dotted lines in FIGL 6. The yoke 54 pivots aboutshaft 50 andthe lower ends of legs 56 ofthe yoke move toa position forwardly of the shaft 50. This actionftends to move bar 62, cross barV 64 and "lugs 72 Yforwardly anr amount proportionate 74.V Lugs 72 are substantially triangular vin shape andk f of lugs 70 allows one straight side 75 to assume a vertical position, and the other operativeposition of the lugs 4allows the other straight side 76 to fall into a vertical position. In both ofthese operative positions,ithe arcuateshaped bottoms 78 engage the upper anges 14 of railsf 10 and .12. The lugs 72 are moved from the position in FIG.l

4 to the position in FIG.'5 by rotatingy the lugs in a clock, wise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4. The direction of rotation of the lugs is reversed to reverse these positions. Screws 80 threadably extend in'a suitable threaded aperture in lugs 72. The screws 80 are soV positionedv in theY lugs that they will engageV posts 66 whenever they are moved Ycompletely through the lugs to prevent the lugs from rotating downwardly to Vengage lianges14 of rails 10v and 12. Noteithe engagement of screw 80 with post 66 r in FIG. 7. This renders thejackassembly inoperative as will be explained hereafter; Y n The normal operation of'my device-is as follows: The intended function of the boring machine is accomplished by moving carriage 31 from the rearward endsV of rails 1,0Vr 'and 12 in a forwardly directionwhereupon drill bit 42V and drill stem can be moved into the earth underneath to the amount'that the lowerlend of yoke 54moved forwardly. Thus, at this stage of operation, the handle 57 and carriage 31 are in the position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. V6, and the lugs 72 have been. projected forwardly with respect to the stationary carriage. It should be noted that the lugs72 do not resist this forward sliding movement' on the rails for this` movement tends to rotate the lugs `upwardly in a counterclockwise direction (as Y viewed in FIG. 6)Y out of binding engagement with the rails.` Then, as the handle 57'is movedforwardly from the position in the dotted lines of'FIG. 6to the position shown by the solid lines, the lower end of the yoke instantly tends'to withdraw bar 62, cross bar 64 and lugs 72 to their original position. However, such reverse sliding action tends tocause lugs 72 to rotate downwardly into the rails, as Viewed in FIG. 6, and the combined action of cross bar 64 and lugs72 thereupon 'lock on the flange 14 Yof the rails to prevent any rearward movement of the lugs, or anyk displacement of vcross bar 64, bar 62 or rod 58 on thelower end ofthe yoke 54. Since the forward movementl of handle 57 cannot therefore-move the lugs72, and

hencel the rod 58 on the lower end of yoke S4, Athe yoke 54 pivots on rod 58 and the carriage 31 is moved forward- 1y an increment equal tothegfrectilinear displacement of shaft Stsecured to the upper portion of yoke 54. This displacement is shown in FIG. 6 where shaft 50A has moved forwardly Vfrom a position shown by the .dotted line to the position shown Vby the solid lines. Thus, the jacking function in the boring operation is accomplished in twocycleS.

v In the firstl cycle, the lugs72 are moved forwardly asv the a street.v When the carriageY 31 has beenfmoved Vforv i wardlyl substantially the full length ofthe rails, the drill stemv 40 is disconnected at coupling 36 Vand-theV carriager 31 is then returned to the rearward endfof the4 rails'. A

Vsecond drill stem is then secured by one-of its ends to the' rearwardv end of drill stem 40, and the other end thereof is secured to coupling 36. The forward movement of the carriage will then permit the second drill stem toA move into the earth and the drill bit 42 willibel advancedin a horizontal direction Aa corresponding distance. These steps are continued until the 'drill bit 42 penetrates thev Y the next protruding section of vdrill-stem so that an a'ddi-' 'rearward movement of handle 57 causes yoke 54 to pivot on shaft 56. 1n' the second cycle, the lugsr 72and cross bar64 grip the rail as handle 57- causes yoke 54 to pivot on rod 58 vto pull carriage 31 forwardly.- The repetition of these two cycles will obviously continue to move the carriage 31 forwardly onl the Asupporting'rails. Whenv the first section of pipe stem 4Q 'has been bored and disconnectedrfrom coupling 36', the lugs 72 can be quickly rotated to the position shownin FIGS. 1, '.4 and v5, and the carriage 31 can be rolled to the rearward end of the rails to commence anotherborng cycle. The lugs 72 must be moved to this reverse position, or placed in the inoperative position `shown'in FIG. 7, to move the carriage rearward- 1y on the supporting rails, because thedriving position of the lugs'in FIG. 6 yprevents any rearward movement'of the lugs or carriage. After the carriage has been soy returned to the rearward end of the supporting rails, the lugs 72 are again `movedto the driving position shown in FIG. 6, and

the above described driving cycles are repeated with regard to a second drill stem.

When my device is used to withdraw a plurality of coupled drill stems from underneath a street, the carriage 31 is moved to the forward end of the supporting rails and coupling 36 is secured to a protruding end of a drill stem. The lugs 72 are moved to the withdraw position shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The handle 57 is moved from a rearward position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 5 to a forward position shown by the solid lines in that gure. Since the lugs 72 offer no resistance to sliding in a rearward direction on the rails, the yoke 54 pivots on shaft 50 as the handle 57 is moved rearwardly, and the rearward displacement of the lower end of the yoke pulls the bar 62, cross bar 64 and lugs 72 in a rearward direction. Thus, the carriage 31 remains stationary and lugs 72 move rearwardly from the position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 5 to a position shown by the solid lines in that ligure.

As handle 57 is moved rearwardly from the position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 4 to the posit-ion shown by the solid lines therein, there is an instantaneous tendency for lugs 72 to move forwardly back to their original position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 5. However, this movement would cause the lugs 72 to rotate downwardly into the rail and so the lugs '72 and the ends of cross bar 64 immediately grip the flanges 14 of rails 10 and 12 to resist this forward movement of the lugs. Since the lugs 72, cross bar 64 and bar 62 refuse to yield in a forward direction, yoke 54 thereupon pivots on the substantially stationary rod 58 as the handle 57 moves rearwardly. This enables the carriage to move rearwardly an increment equal to the rearward displacement of shaft 50 in the upper portion of yoke 54. The operator exerts a force on the upper end of handle 57 acting through the length of the handle to overcome the resistance of the carriage to move as acting through a shorter distance measured from the shaft 50 to the rod 58.

Thus, the withdrawal of a drill stem and carriage 31 byy the jack assembly also falls into two cycles. The rst cycle is when the handle 57 is moved forwardly to slide the lugs 72 rearwardly on the rails as yoke 54 pivots on shaft 50. In the second cycle, the carriage 31 is moved rearwardly as the lugs 72 and cross bar 64 grip the rail and yoke 54 pivots on the substantially stationary rod 58. Obviously, as each section of drill stem is withdrawn by the rearward movement of the carriage, the carriage can be returned to the forward end of the supporting rails to withdraw a subsequent drill stem section, The carriage is easily returned to the forward end of the rails by reversing the position of lugs 72, or by moving them to an inoperative position in the manner described.

Thus, from the foregoing, it is seen that my invention will accomplish at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my jack structure for an earth boring machine without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination with a machine having elongated supporting rails, said rails including horizontal anges, and

a carriage movably mounted on said rails,

a vertically disposed yoke means pivotally secured to said carriage,

a horizontally disposed support bar pivotally secured by one of its ends to the lower end of said yoke means,

a cross bar secured to the other end of said support bar and extending transversely therefrom whereby the ends of said cross bar terminate below said flanges on said rails,

means on said support bar and said carriage to yieldingly urge the ends of said cross bar into engagement with the lower surfaces of said flanges,

lug elements,

means on said cross bar pivotally supporting said lug elements over said anges on said rails whereby said lug elements can engage the top surfaces of said flanges at times,

said lug elements being substantially triangular in shape with an arcuate bottom terminating in straight sloping sides whereby a rectilinear force exerted thereon in one direction by the movement of said yoke means will cause said lugs to slide on said anges, and a rectilinear force exerted thereon in an 0pposite direction by the movement of said yoke means will cause said lugs to move towards the respective ends of said cross bar to 'bind said flanges in frictional engagement therebetween.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said lugs are pivotally secured to said cross bar and can be moved to two operating positions with respect to said flanges, whereby movement of said yoke means in one direction will cause said lugs to slide on said anges in one of said operating positions, and the movement of said yoke means in said one direction will cause said lugs and said cross bar to bind said flanges in frictional engagement in said other operating position.

3. The structure of claim 1 including means on said lugs for selectively holding said lugs out of engagement with said llanges at times.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said lugs having an arcuate-shaped bottom which is normally in engagement with the flanges of said rails and said lugs are pivotally supported by their upper portions and are adapted to assume one of two operating positions in engagement with said anges by being rotated upwardly and thence downwardly in one continuous arc from one operating position to the other.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein wheels are rotatably secured to said carriage, and flanges extend outwardly from said rails to egnage and support said wheels.

6. In combination with an earth boring machine having supporting rails, and

a carriage movably mounted on said rails,

a boring means secured to said carriage;

a jack means including a lever means pivotally secured to said carriage,

gripping means normally engaging said rails,

and connecting means pivotally connected to both said lever means and said gripping means to cause said gripping means to grip said rails when said lever is moved in one direction, and to release said rails when said lever is moved in Ia second direction, said gripping means being adapted to be selectively pivotally movable between two operative positions so that while in one lof its -operative positions each gripping mean-s will grip said rails when said lever is moved in each direction and to release said rails when said lever is moved in a second direction.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said gripping means are lug elements being substantially triangular in shape with an arcuate bottom terminating in straight sloping sides whereby a rectilinear force exerted thereon in one direction by the movement of said lever means will cause said lugs to slide on said rails, and a rectilinear force exerted thereon in an lopposite direction by the movement of said lever means will cause said lugs to frictionally engage said rails. Y

8. In combination with an earth boring machine having supporting rails,

a carriage movably mounted on said rails adapted to have a boring means secured thereto,

a jack means including a lever means pivotally secured to said carriage and a gripping means operatively pivotally connected to said lever means; said gripping means being movable between two operative positions so that While in each of its operati-ve` positions saidl two operative'positions so that while in each of its operative positions, said gripping means will-release said railsV when said lever is moved in said one direction, and will grip said rails when Ysaid lever `is moved in said ysecond direction.

10. The structure of claim 9Y wherein said gripping means includes Vmeans `for holding said grippingmeans away from gripping engagement with said rails at times.

11. 'Inicombination with a machine having supporting rai-ls, Y v Y acarriage mfovably mounted on Ysaid rails,

a jack means including a lever-means pivotally securedv to said V'carriage at av rst pivot point, a supporting bar pivotally secured to saidlever means at a'secondl Vpivot pointy and gripping means pivotally 'secured' to said supporting bar and engaging'sarid rails to yprevent any horizontal movementy of said second pivot point p when 'said leveris pivotedjon said rcarriage in one direction. Y Y

12.*The structure vof claim 11 wherein said gripping means on said supporting bar is adapted to be selectively pivotally movable between two openative posi-tions so that while in each yof its operative positions, Said Vgripping means will 4permit horizontal rmov'exr'rent of said sec- -ond pivot point when said lever is pivoted on said carriage in said one direction.

Y AReerences `Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS I BROUGHTONG. DURHAM, Prfmafyrxamfnepr. CHARLES ocoNNELL, Examiner. 

6. IN COMBINATION WITH AN EARTH BORING MACHINE HAVING SUPPORTING RAILS, AND A CARRIAGE MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID RAILS, A BORING MEANS SECURED TO SAID CARRIAGE; A JACK MEANS INCLUDING A LEVER MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID CARRIAGE, GRIPPING MEANS NORMALLY ENGAGING SAID RAILS, AND CONNECTING MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO BOTH SAID LEVER MEANS AND SAID GRIPPING MEANS TO CAUSE SAID GRIPPING MEANS TO GRIP SAID RAILS WHEN SAID LEVER IS MOVED IN ONE DIRECTION, AND TO RELEASE SAID RAILS WHEN SAID LEVER IS MOVED IN A SECOND DIRECTION, SAID GRIPPING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO BE SELECTIVELY PIVOTALLY MOVABLE BETWEEN TWO OPERATIVE POSITIONS SO THAT WHILE IN ONE OF ITS OPERATIVE POSITIONS EACH GRIPPING MEANS WILL GRIP SAID RAILS WHEN SAID LEVER IS MOVED IN EACH DIRECTION AND TO RELEASE SAID RAILS WHEN SAID LEVER IS MOVED IN A SECOND DIRECTION. 